Saboteurs attacked one of two oil pipelines feeding Iraq's southern export terminals today despite increased security following a similar attack last month.
"Fire is raging in the 42-inch pipeline on the Faw Peninsula. It was sabotage," said an oil official, who declined to be nahmed.
The effect on oil exports, which were running at close to 2 million barrels per day before from the Basra and Khor al-Amaya offshore terminals, was not immediately known.
Last month, saboteurs blew holes in the 1.06-metre and 1.22-metre pipelines feeding the two terminals, and also attacked the main export pipeline through Turkey, forcing exports to stop.